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However, Gay Times columnist and dating blogger The Guyliner believes saying ‘I love you’ can be overrated.

“I don’t necessarily think you should have to say it at all. Thinking there’s an ideal time or stage in a relationship makes it sound like a mechanical process rather than an insatiable urge, driven by emotion, passion and comfort,” he told HuffPost UK.

“I’m wary of people who consider saying ‘I love you’ to be a big deal – it usually implies it means nothing at all to them. I prefer my ‘I love yous’ to come from how I act, not what I say.

“And if they love you back, you’ll know. No big speeches necessary...But don’t say it right after sex. Nobody ever believes that one.”

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that if you don’t receive the response you’re looking for after saying “I love you”, it doesn’t reflect on you as a person.

“If they don’t say it back then try not to take it personally,” Bloomfield said.

“It may have much more to do with them than with you.”

Bad Relationship Habits

Bad Relationship Habits

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Thinking Negatively

"Ask yourself one key question, can I assume positive intent when it comes to this person?” says holistic coach Ekene Onu. This matters because in most good relationships, the answer is yes — and changing your mindset to consider that can provide you with needed perspective. "Even when your partner does something that impacts you negatively, if you can assume positive intent then your approach to conflict resolution will likely be different because you know that they didn't intend to hurt you,” she says.